a manufactured home and the area of land the manufactured home is located on if it's owned by the same person.

Escheat

When a property is transferred to the Crown because it was owned by:

a corporation that has been dissolved, or

a person that died without having made a will and doesn't have any known heirs to claim the estate

Executor/Executrix

For tax deferment purposes, the executor/executrix is the executor of the will of a deceased owner.

Fee simple

The law recognizes this form of estate (ownership) in real estate as the highest form. The property owner is entitled to full enjoyment of the property, limited only by zoning laws, deed or subdivision restrictions or covenants. The duration of this ownership is not limited and can be passed along in a will to the owner's heirs.

Is incorporated in Canada but is controlled directly or indirectly by one or more foreign entities (see section 256 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) for further details), unless the shares of the corporation are listed on a Canadian stock exchange.

Foreign national

A person who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, including a stateless person.

a registered psychologist who is authorized by the College of Psychologists of B.C. to practice psychology, or

an occupational therapist authorized by the College of Occupational Therapists of B.C. to practice occupational therapy.

Improvements

Buildings or structures on a property, such as:

houses

manufactured homes

modular homes

garages

sheds or other outbuildings

paving, such as driveways

utilities, such as sewer

timber

Injunction

The court may make an order prohibiting the owner of the property from dealing with that property. The injunction may be temporary or permanent.

In trust

For tax deferment purposes, “in trust” means the registered owner holds their interest as a trustee under a trust agreement.

Judgment

A court’s final determination of the rights and obligations of the parties in a court case.

Land co-operative

A separate taxable parcel owned by a corporation exclusively for the benefit of its shareholders. Shareholders have a right to occupy a portion of the parcel and to own share(s) and other securities that have a value equivalent to the value of the portion in relation to the value of the parcel.

Laneway home

A small, detached house built on a single family lot, usually in the backyard and opening onto the back lane.

Leased land

A contract where the owner allows another person to use and occupy their land for a specified period and in return for a specified rent.

Life estate

An agreement for an individual to reside on a property for a specified period of time (usually until death) at which point the property reverts to a fee simple owner.

Live in B.C.

A homeowner is considered to live in B.C. if it's the province where they ordinarily reside. This doesn't include casual, intermittent or transitory visits to B.C. Living in B.C. usually means a homeowner will:

File their income taxes as a B.C. resident

Be enrolled in B.C.'s Medical Services Plan

Have a B.C. driver's licence

Have their vehicle registered in B.C.

Marriage separation

You have a written separation agreement under which you have agreed to live apart or a court order recognizing your separation from your spouse.

Medical practitioner

A person registered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia and entitled under the Health Professions Act to practice medicine and use the title “medical practitioner.”

Net income

Net income is the amount shown on line 236 on your income tax Notice of Assessment.

Non-member leaseholder

A person who leases land on a First Nations' reserve but isn't a member of a First Nations.

Northern and Rural Area

A property that isn't located in any of the following regional districts:

A person who is authorized by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia to practice nursing as a nurse practitioner and use the title “nurse practitioner.”

Option to Purchase

A document formalizing an agreement that a person is allowed to be given the chance to purchase the property within a specified period of time.

Permanent resident

Someone who has acquired permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada, but is not yet a Canadian citizen

Person with a disability

Under the home owner grant, a person with a disability is someone who has a severe mental or physical impairment that, in the opinion of a health professional, is likely to continue for at least 2 years. This impairment directly and significantly restricts the person’s ability to perform one or more daily living activities either continuously or periodically for extended periods. In order to perform daily living activities, the person with a disability requires:

significant help or supervision of another person, help from an assistive device or the services of an assistance animal, or

A principal residence is the usual place that a person makes their home.

If a person owns more than one home, they can't designate which one is their principal residence. Their principal residence is where they live and conduct their daily affairs, like paying bills and receiving mail, and it's generally the residence used in government records for things like income tax, Medical Services Plan, driver's licence and vehicle registration.

Property

Land and improvements such as buildings or structures.

Property classifications

A classification system used by BC Assessment to define the type and use of each property. There are nine property classifications:

An interest charge that is always based on the amount loaned and does not compound.

Spouse

Under Property Tax Deferment and Property Transfer Tax, a spouse is a person you are married to or living in a marriage-like relationship with for at least two years.

Under Home Owner Grant, a spouse is a person you are married to or living in a marriage-like relationship with for at least two years. If you’re married but separated and living apart and you each want to claim the home owner grant for your principal residences, you’ll need a written agreement signed by both of you stating you have agreed to live apart or a court order recognizing your separation.

Surviving spouse

A woman or man who lost their spouse by death and who is not currently the spouse of another person.

A taxable trustee is a trustee that is a foreign national or foreign corporation holding title in trust for beneficiaries. The taxable trustee can also be a Canadian citizen holding title in trust for beneficiaries who are foreign nationals or foreign corporations.

Tenure assignment

When an individual or business takes over an existing Crown land tenure from the current occupier before their tenure ends.

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